Popper, Corn

Object Name:

Popper, Corn

Creator:

Knowlton, Francis P.
Kelley, Amos

Date:

1837

Material:

Wood
Wire

Dimensions:

H-1.3 W-4.75 D-0.25 inches

Description:

Corn popper. Wire netting box with lid attached to a long wooden handle with 3/8" squared sides.

Provenance:

Believed to be the first popcorn popper made in the U.S., perhaps in the world. In 1837 Francis P. Knowlton (1811-1887) bought of Amos Kelley (1796-1859) some wire netting and made this popper. He took a dozen to the city (Concord), but the storekeepers ridiculed them. He tried to leave them to be sold on Commission, but they would charge him for rent for storage. He took them back to Hopkinton; the first one made was given to the Antiquarian Society by his children in 1884. In later years, Amos Kelley made poppers, pressed into shape, which gradually found favor with the public.

Subjects:

Cooking utensils, Wire

People:

Knowlton, Francis Proctor, Kelley, Amos

Item Number:

1983.0489

Accession Number:

1983.0489

Type of Material:

Objects

Copyright Statement:

For information regarding copyright, permissions, and reproductions contact the Hopkinton Historical Society

Participating Organization:

Hopkinton Historical Society